PSA .300 Blackout M-Lok AR-15 Rifle Review -16” Barrel
Several years ago I was looking for my first AR-15 purchase… for many reasons, one might, including home defense, coyote hunting, hog hunting, and particularly deer hunting once my home state of Indiana made it legal to hunt deer with rifles. Not knowing what I truly wanted, or many differences from make/models… And on a very tight budget, a M-lok AR-15 in .300 blackout from Palmetto State Armory seemed like a fitting choice!
PSA 16″ PISTOL LENGTH 300AAC 1/8 PHOSPHATE 13.5″ LIGHTWEIGHT M-LOK MOE RIFLE
Chrome-moly steel chambered in 300AAC, with a 1:8 twist, M4 barrel extension, and a pistol-length gas system; Heavy profile barrel is finished off with a PSA 13.5″ Lightweight M-Lok free-float handguard, low-profile gas block, and A2 flash hider. Forged 7075-T6 A3 AR-15 upper is machined to MIL-SPECS
Price: $629.99
•Heavy Barrel Profile
• Ultralight M-Lok free-float handgaurd
•1/8 Barrel Twist
Instant Draws for the PSA .300 Blackout M-Lok AR-15
This AR-15 is light at 6 lbs, and at a great price! You can’t argue that this is a great starting place for a quick pickup on a great budget rifle that gives you plenty of access for some shooting at the range and hunting! Specifically, the .300 blackout and M-Lok at the price stood out, the .300 blackout was a much more ideal choice considering coyotes and hogs, and being applicable for deer made it a no-brainer. The M-Lok specifically over the other options out there made more sense to me, I liked the concept and look way more, seeming to me at least a lighter sleeker approach to customization.
I wanted an AR-15 and didn’t feel ready to go with a bigger heavier AR-10 with a .308 which would have been my choice. I ultimately thought that would have been overpowering for my applications at first. I also transparently wanted that bigger upgrade to be in a bolt gun – I bought that 2 years ago – read my Bergara .308 B-14 Wilderness Ridge Rifle Review here.
PSA .300 Blackout M-Lok AR-15 Rifle Specs
- Barrel Length: 16”
- Barrel Material: 4140 Nitride Treated Steel
- Chamber: 300 AAC Blackout
- Twist Rate: 1 in 8”
- Extension: M4
- Gas System: Pistol length
- Gas Block Type: Low profile .750”
- Upper Receiver: Forged 7075 T6 Aluminum
- Receiver Style: M4 Flat top with feedramps
- Receiver Finish: Hardcoat Anodized
- Forward Assist: Yes
- Dust Cover: Yes
- Hand Guard Type: Free Float
- Hand Guard Style: PSA Lightweight M-Lok Free Float Rail
- Hand Guard length: 13.5”
- Bolt Steel: Carpenter 158, Mag Phosphate coated
- Bolt Carrier Steel: 8620, Chrome lined
- Staked gas key: Yes
- Lower Receiver: Forged 7075 T6 Aluminum
- Receiver Finish: Hardcoat Anodized
- Fire Control Group: Single-Stage, Mil-spec style
- Buffer Tube: 7075 T6 Aluminum
- Adjustment: 6-position
- Stock: Mapul® Carbine Stock
- Magazine: 30 Round Aluminum
- Weight: 6.75 Lbs
- Length: 32″
PLENTY OF USE – A Rifle for MANY Purposes
This rifle has literally seen it all, including home defense of….our chickens! After a bloody encounter with the local raccon ( I live in the country with the nearest neighbor over 200 yards away), I had to put the time in to it.
This rifle has been and continues to be a workhorse for the family, with well over 10 deer under its belt, including 4 nice bucks, too many to count (over 30 or 40) coyotes, and several raccoons/foxes in the chicken coop. It performed extremely well with 1 shot needed for every harvest when it came to the deer I shot with it. This rifle saw the most use without a doubt coyote hunting, specifically at night with some mods/equipment additions you can read below! From 200-yard shots to one night shooting 3 coyotes back to back with some close follow-up shots (WATCH BELOW!). I got more than enough scope time behind this rifle to warrant a positive review.
Before we go into any further into my Palmetto PSA .300 Blackout Ar-15 Rifle Review or build, if anything, I hope a rifle purchase like this gives you more opportunity into hunting specifically. Not sure where to start? Reach out to a local hunter or group or non-profit…get a hunting license and before you know it you’ll be experiencing some incredible opportunities, most of which a .300 blackout AR-15 isn’t a horrible choice.
PROS:
CONS:
First Upgrades and Mods for the PSA .300 Blackout Rifle
I upgraded the sights to a scope for obvious hunting reasons – a simple run-of-the-mill scope that was very cost-friendly. The main use this rifle got out of the gate was coyote hunting. So I got a Magpul Sling, and a Sniper Hog Light 66LRX IR Illuminator Red Light. I paired this with a Death Grip Bog tripod or Great Divide Tripod depending on the hunt for coyote and deer hunting. I did also swap some of the furniture to FDE Hogue Grip and stock, the rubber giving me a little better grip and a little more forgiving on cold nights of coyote hunting. Another big improvement made right off the bat was a Timney Trigger and Nickel Boron BCG.
Most of the deer and Coyotes shot used a 110 grain Vmax or 125-grain hollow point from Hornady (the Black or the whitetail), in all instances with both coyotes or deer they went down within 50 yards with little to no trailing needed. Given that ammo type, the instruction inside was more than enough to bring down everything I put a good shot on, however, the blood trail with being such a light piece of lead was less than to be desired or non-existent.
Overall this was my first AR15 and an absolute workhorse. I honestly havnt counted rounds through it but its been my main shooter at the range, and every type of rifle hunting for 6 years and hasnt failed me yet! What an incredible place to start with a great rifle caliber, delivering a better punch than your standard .223 for pigs, coyotes, and yes deer, while doubling for a range gun and home defense. The Palmetto PSA m-lok .300 Blackout Ar15 Rifle is a great choice for a starter or hunting AR15.
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Ready to buy? The PSA 16″ Pistol Length 300AAC 1/8 M-lok MOE Rifle Palmetto sells directly on their website here.
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AUTHOR BIO
Weston Schrank is a hunting industry professional with years of whitetail management and hunting experience in the Midwest. He is currently expanding that experience in the mobile hunting world, and the world of western hunting.
Instagram- @wes.schrank
